Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 2005. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 106-108).

Thesis (Ph. L.)--Catholic University of America, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 77-78).

abstract: This dissertation examines how violent fantasizing influences the behavior of a brutal sub-class of murderers--mass and serial killers. Specifically, fantasy gives the perpetrator a profane catharsis due to his or her inability to cope with reality. The researcher identified, four common fantasy scripts: (Revenge Fantasy; Sexual, Sadistic and Misogynistic Fantasy; Suicidal-Homicidal Ideation; and Search for Validation through Infamy and Media Attention Fantasy) that more or less, play into the motivations and actions of mass and serial killers. Thus, it is important to understand why and how the killer moves from an all-consuming imaginative space to actually harming others. The methodology used for this research was "ethnographic content analysis" and, to a lesser extent, empirical phenomenology and semiotics. Source materials that were analyzed included: artifacts generated by the offenders prior to commission of their crimes (e.g., diaries, manifestos, blogs, drawings, photographs, and videotapes); official findings of governmental review panels; other public documents; survivor, witness or family accounts; news reports; and work conducted previously by other academics. This dissertation is particularly novel, in that the role of fantasy has not received much critical analysis with respect to mass murder. Likewise, the researcher's examination of current theory on the ontogenesis of moral dysfunction led to an original interpretation in the works of criminologists, Eric Hickey and Lonnie Athens. From a synthesis of Hickey's trauma-control theory and Athens' esoteric constructs of "self" and "other" a more cohesive understanding of the homicidal personality emerged. Essentially, the researcher argues that the intersection of early derailing influences and pervasive life losses result in a fragmented concept of self, which the now deeply unstable individual seeks to validate through violent fantasy and homicidal acts. It is further proposed that these findings may lead to future inquiry into: methods for early intervention and diversion of an at-risk population; and where the foregoing is impractical, better methods of detecting, mitigating the harm caused by and quickly apprehending these particularly violent offenders. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Justice Studies 2011

abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between childhood maltreatment and juvenile homicide offending. Specifically, this study compared a sample of maltreated male juvenile homicide offenders (N = 51) with non-maltreated male juvenile homicide offenders (N = 364) among the following areas: familial dysfunction and disorganization, mental health issues, academic functioning, prior delinquency, substance abuse and homicide-related crime characteristics. Data was obtained from the following aggregate sources: Supervision Risk Classification Instrument (SRCI), the State Attorney's Recommendation form (SAR), the Predisposition Report (PR), and the Massachusetts Juveniles Screening Instrument 2 (MAYSI-2). Chi square and t-tests were then utilized to compare the two groups and preform analyses. Maltreated male juvenile homicide offenders significantly differed from non-maltreated male juvenile homicide offenders in terms of familial dysfunction and disorganization, academic functioning, prior delinquency and homicide-related crime characteristics. As a result of these significant differences, tailored prevention and treatment efforts were discussed. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S.W. Social Work 2011

Doctor of Philosophy / School of Family Studies and Human Services / Sandra M. Stith / Intimate partner homicide (IPH) is a serious problem throughout the world. Research has identified a history of intimate partner violence (IPV) as a risk factor for IPH (Campbell et al., 2007). However, we know that not all individuals who perpetrate IPV end up perpetrating IPH, and not all victims of IPV end up becoming victims of IPH. There is a need to identify additional risk factors for IPH in order to potentially help identify individuals who may be at a greater risk for IPH perpetration or victimization. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis on risk factors for male IPH perpetration and female IPH victimization. This meta-analysis examined results from 17 studies, which included 148 effect sizes to be used in the analysis. The overall sample size included in the study was 10,143. This study compared IPV samples and IPH samples as a means to aid in identifying risk factors that may place individuals who are victims or perpetrators of IPV at a greater risk for IPH perpetration or victimization. Results of our analyses indicated that the strongest risk factors for male IPH perpetration were the perpetrator having direct access to a gun, perpetrator’s’ previous threats with a weapon, perpetrator’s previous non-fatal strangulation, perpetrator’s previous rape of the victim, perpetrator’s demonstration of controlling behaviors, perpetrator’s previous threats to harm the victim, and the perpetrator’s previous stalking of the victim. We found that the strongest risk factors for female IPH victimization were the victim being abused by the perpetrator while pregnant, the victim’s substance abuse, the victim having less than a high school education, being separated from the perpetrator, and having children from a previous relationship (not with the perpetrator). Implications for law enforcement personnel, victim advocates, mental health professionals, as well as other professionals who may be in contact with potential IPH perpetrators and victims are discussed.

Crime of murder and manslaughter under section 140, 141 of the Criminal Code Abstract This thesis is focused on crimes of murder and manslaughter under Act No. 40/2009 Coll., Criminal Code. The aim of the thesis is to deliver a complex analysis of crimes of murder and manslaughter under section 140, 141 of the Criminal Code and evaluate them de lege ferenda. The thesis is divided into five chapters. The first chapter is dedicated to the historical development of intentional killings regulation in the premises of today's Czech Republic. In particular, the attention is brought to the Austrian Penal Act from 1852 all the way up to the adaptation of the present Criminal Code of the Czech Republic. The second chapter is focused on actus reus of the crime of murder and manslaughter. Both of these crimes are of special significant object - the human life. This chapter's focus is also dedicated to the beginning and the end of human life from the perspective of criminal law. The third chapter focuses on the analysis of the crime of murder and its systematization under the present Criminal Code. Within this chapter, the simple murder and premeditative murder are outlined from which is murder with forethought and murder after prior consideration further defined. The significant part of this chapter is the description...

This study investigates the impact of traffic patterns and the availability of emergency medical services on the lethality of violent interpersonal encounters. Key situational and contextual factors are controlled using the criminal events perspective. Data were taken from the 2002 National Incident-Based Reporting System of the FBI, as well as from fire/rescue and EMS services of Memphis, TN, Cincinnati, OH, and Richmond, VA. Additive models of logistic regression analysis revealed that fire/rescue availability, firearm use, incidents arising out of arguments, outdoor locations, and victim gender are the most consistent predictors of whether or not a violent incident will result in a homicide.

Very few studies have explored the relationship between the availability of certain types of firearms and gun density on both gun aggravated assaults and gun homicides. Nonetheless, research by Koper (2001) discovered that the availability of more lethal types of firearms, not gun density, was directly related to an increase in gun homicide rates for Dallas. However, this study did not take into account certain social and economic variables that may strengthen or weaken the determined relationship. The current study uses data previously analyzed by Koper (2001) and includes social and economic variables that have been linked to lethal violence while using gun aggravated assaults and gun homicides as the dependent variables. The results will help ascertain to what extent the impact of firearm availability on gun crimes is contingent on contextual factors.

The knowledge of gang homicides is constantly increasing, but one aspect of gangs rarely studied is drive-by shootings (Dedel 2007; Hutson, Anglin, and Pratts 1994; Hutson, Anglin, and Eckstein 1996; Polczynski 2007; Sanders 1994; Sugarmann and Newth 2007). In this paper are comparative analyses of gang-motivated, firearm-related homicides perpetrated through a drive-by shooting to those which are not perpetrated through a drive-by shooting, by spatial and regression analyses. The data used for the analyses are a combination of incident variables, such as victim, offender, and incident characteristics, as well as social and economic characteristics of the communities in which the homicides occurred for a 31 year time period in Chicago. The findings indicate that there are differences in the characteristics and spatial location of gang-motivated, firearm-related homicides whether perpetrated through a drive-by shooting or by some other means. Based on the findings there may be policy implementations that are available in order to reduce the likelihood of a gang-motivated drive-by shooting.

No description available.